Friday, 25 May 2012

For a small cost and a little effort we have continued to enjoy picking salad greens over the last month as apart of the 52 week Salad Challenge.

Our weather has been quite mild for May, dryer than normal so i have had to hand water the plot a few times.Over the last week we have also experienced a couple of frosts but so far the salad greens are still looking good.

I transferred a few seedlings of coriander into a pot closer to the back door and the lettuce under the lemon has provided many leaves for sandwiches.

Turnip tops going to seed but the chooks are enjoying their salad fix each day.

The Pak Choi has been the most impressive salad green, it was quick to germinate, seedlings grew quickly and we have enjoyed the leaves in many salads, stir-fry's and this last week added to soup just before serving.

Italian cabbage seedlings coming along nicely.

Seedlings in the cold frame, Kale. Rocket and Beetroot .

The 52 week Salad Challenge is hosted by V.G at vegplotting ,drop by and see what other keen gardeners/cooks are doing with their greens.......

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Today I'm joining with JODY who is hosting The Garden of Eden's Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard.Each week i read what LIZ at Suburbantomato makes and have enjoyed many of her recipes especially anything spicy so this week i thought I'd join in to and share ..................

I think any cook/gardener appreciates surplus produce that is gifted or swapped and these lovely lemons(i can't grow them) and pumpkin are from friends in Mt Beauty (a beautiful part of Victoria)

A month or so ago i made a chutney with one of my only two butternut pumpkins grown this year and was more than happy with the results already finishing 2 jars and giving away a third. I'm hoping i will have the same results with this pumpkin.

If you are looking for something a little different, enjoy a little bit of spice or have a rare harvest like Barb at thenewgoodlife i think you will love this recipe.

Indian-spiced chutney

900g
butternut pumpkin

seeds
removed,peeled and cut into bite sized chunks.

2
onions finely chopped

225g
cooking apples, peeled,cored and chopped.

3
zucchini halved length-ways and chopped

50g
ready to eat dates, chopped

450ml
cider vinegar

2tbsp
medium or hot curry powder

1tsp
ground cumin

2.5cm
piece of fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped

450g
white or light brown sugar

Put
the pumpkin,onions,apples,zucchini and dates in a preserving pan.

Pour
over vinegar,add spices and ginger. Mix well.

Bring
to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 40minutes or until the

vegetables
are soft, stirring occasionally.

Add
sugar,stir until it has dissolved,then continue to cook on a
gentle simmer
for 1-1 ½ hours or until chutney is thick and the liquid has been
absorbed. Stir continuously near the end of the cooking time so
that the chutney doesn't catch on the base of pan.

Ladle
into warm,sterilised jars with non-metallic lids making sure
there are no air gaps.

Store in a cool dark space for 12 months.

Allow
the flavours to mature for at least 1 month and refrigerate after
opening.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Thanks for coming along on the ride with me, so enjoyed "meeting" you all and a warm thank you to all that take the time to leave such lovely,kind, witty,funny and thoughtful comments, recipes and advice.

Hope you will all drop by again over the next year........................

Iv'e decided to keep this blog purely for gardening and have started another blog andsotostitch for all things creative......you may like to take a peek.

Unknown to me hubby has been dabbling in a little horsemanship and yesterday surprised me with Young Alfred and Matilda's partnership.....

Now if he can just teach Matilda to pull a cart and Alfred to pull weeds......

Friday, 4 May 2012

Well actually it was finally installed this week along with the rest of the kitchens appliances, dishwasher(never had one before) and fan forced oven.i still don't have any lights but am improvising with a lamp.

So guess who's been up since 5.30 this morning making a batch of banana/sultana (healthy) muffins and filling the dishwasher with all the dirty dishes.

Just loving my kitchen bench on wheels that hubby made for me

Rails for my tea towels and heaps of storage.

A few new cook books...................what more could a girl ask for???

Now that jar of greenish/brown mixture is a lovely gift from my dear friend Deb. Its concentrated veggie stock made in her new thermomix and will last for 6 months in the fridge. One tablespoon is equivalent to one stock cube.

My favourite book at present , divided into the seasons each fruit and veggie is listed and then information on..... When to pick Eat and Store How to preserve Freezing options Recipes/relish/jams

So this weekend I'm cooking up a storm , heading out for a big bush walk and hopefully planting a few more seeds in the veggie patch.